ANZAC DAY - Covid19 style: on balconies, in driveways........

[Cathie19]

For non-antipodean folk on this forum, of which there are many, April 25th is an important commemorative day in both Australia &  New Zealand. It is ANZAC Day.

For those not in “the know”,  ANZAC stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corp, which served together in the First World War.

Today, the modern commemoration is honouring all who have fought or participated in defence forces across all campaigns including those peace keeping and active wars. Not a celebration of war, rather a recognition of their individual sacrifice.

Normally there are very big dawn services and  gatherings across towns and cities at local cenotaphs and important historical sites, including Gallipoli in Turkey. We celebrate on the day, 

never the nearest weekend.....

One thing that we still still eat and bake, are ANZAC biscuits. These were traditionally sent to soldiers in care packs in World War One, as they kept fairly fresh as they travelled by sea. 

The minute silence at dawn, whilst the Last Post is played by a trumpeter, is spine chilling...

The Ode

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest We Forget.

(The Ode comes from For the Fallen, a poem by the English poet and writer Laurence Binyon and was published in London in The Winnowing Fan: Poems of the Great War in 1914. This verse, which became the Ode for the Returned and Services League, has been used in association with commemoration services in Australia since 1921.)

FYI:

ANZAC history:

https://www.awm.gov.au/Anzacathome/Anzac-traditions

Covid19 dawn driveway service

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-11/anzac-day-around-australia-during-coronavirus-restrictions/12...

Maybe some fellow Aussies and Kiwis may like to tell us their favourite biscuit recipe ......

Let the oats fly and the golden syrup drizzle...

I’ve found the biscuits are generally enjoyed when left in a jar for guests. Especially Aussie guests with kids! Lol.

[Marg11]

We stood at the kerb of our driveway at 6:00 AM on Anzac Day with the radio on a relay of the Nation Broadcast from Duntroon. A new nieghbour joined our street from his balcony as well as a NZ and a Finnish Aussie. We had been sad that we'd had to cancel our trip to Washington DC, Virginia, Vancouver and Sydney but Anzac Day at home in such different circumstances from the regular local dawn service was memorable.